Brassiere and diaphragm supporter



June 30, 1925.

V. LENDRESSE BRASSIEIRE AND DIAPHRAGM SUPPORTER Filed April 3, 1923 2 Sheets-Shet gnumflo z v mm (27 8656 6110: new

V. LENDRESSE BRASSIERE AND DIAPHRAGM SUPPORTER June 30, 19 25.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1923 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/l VIIIIIIIIJ fIIIII/III/II/IIIIIJ Qwvcnhw ML er: 1/6658,

Patented. June' 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,544,245 FF] CE.

PATENT BRASSIIERE AND DIAPHRAGM SUPPORTER.

Application ma April 3, 1923. Serial No. 629,617.

To all it may concern:

Be it known that VICTORIA LENDRESSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Urleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brassieres and Diaphragm Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a brassiere and a diaphragm supporter and has for its principal object to provide a brassiere that will not only act to support the bust but will also support and reduce the diaphragm.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a brassiere and diaphragm supporter. of the above mentioned character, which is of such a construction as to enable the same to be worn with comfort and ease to the wearer and is particularly adapted for use with low corsets or girdles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a brassiere and diaphragm supporter of the above mentioned character, which is of such. a construction as to insure the proper reinforcing of the same and to securely hold the suspension straps in proper place thereon.

. Another important object of the invention is to provide a brassiere and diaphragm supporter of the above mentioned character which is sim la in construction, inexpensive, strong, dura le and well adapted for the purpose for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the saniez- Figure 1 is a view showing the inside of the brassiere and diaphragm supporter made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an outside view thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the brassiere and supporter as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in position upon the wearer.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the reinforcing straps in their secured position on the brassiere and diaphragm supporter.-

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates in the present instance, the front portion of the sai brassiere and diaphragm supporter and the central portion thereof tapers towards its ends to provide a comparatively low back portion when applied as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lower edge of the portion 1 is compoundly curved, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, while the upper edge is arcuately formed, this design providing the tapering ends as above mentioned. The ends 2 and 3 respectively of the brassiere and diaphragm supporter are provided with the usual fastening means such ashooks and eyes thereon in the well known manner for the purpose of securing the ends of the brassiere when applied in position on the wearer. The diaphragm supporter which is embodied in my invention consists of an elastic band-,4 which is adapted to be secured at its respective ends to the inner face of'the lower portionof the said body portion 1 and adjacent thelower edge, in such a mannor as to extend the full length of the brassiere and is also of a shorter length than the length of the longitudinal length of the brassire so as to provide the elasticity in order to enable the same .to properly function.

When in position on the wearer the bras- I siere will'be so arranged as to provide the diaphragm supporter in a stretched condi tion whereby the elastic band extends around the body of the wearer above the waistline and below the bust so as to support the diaphragm.

Secured to the inner face of the brassiere tically extending reinforcing strips 6 and 7 which are centrally arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and extend from the lower edge of the diaphragm supporter to the upper edge of the brassiere and the reinforcing strips are secured or fastened to the inner face of the brassiere by suitable stitchings.

A similar pair of vertically extending supporting strips 8 and 9 are also stitched to the inner face of the brassiere and are arranged adjacent the ends 2 and 3 thereof and extend from the upper edge of the brassiere'to a point a short distance froin the lower edge of-the diaphragm supporter as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the draw-' in s.

rcuate-shaped reinforcing strips 10 and 11 are also stitched to the inner face of the brassiere in such a manner as to have one end thereof stitched to the ends 2 and 3 re-- vertical reinforcing strips 8 and 9 and the upper ends of the arcuate shaped reinforcing strips 10 and 11 merge with the upper ends of the central vertical reinforcing strips 6 and 7 respectively. The elastic band which is stitched at its respective ends to the inner face of the lower portion of the brassiere so as to provide suitable means for supporting the diaphragm is also stitched to the central vertical extending reinforcing strips 6 and 7 respectively.

These reinforcing. strips which are stitched to the inner face of the brassiere act as a suitable bracing means and reinforcing means for the brassiere and diaphragmi supporter whereby the brassiere may be supported in the proper position and thereby obviate the necessity of employing suitable reinforcing means such as whalebone which is now commonly used in connection with reinforcing brassieres. Furthermore the reinforcing strips which are stitched to the inner face of the brassiere are of sufiicient construction and arrangement upon the brassiere so as to properly support and maintain the brassiere in its proper condition and furthermore will lend grace to the figure when worn without inconvenience to the wearer and can be also so arranged upon the brassiere to provide an ornamental design of any suitable configuration. ,1

Suitable suspension straps 12 and 13 are secured to the upper edges of the b'rassire in such a manner as to have the respective ends of-the suspension straps stitched or secured to the upper ends of the vertical arran ed reinforcing strips heretofore descri ed.

It is to be further understood that. these reinforcing strips which extend vertically upon the inner ace of the brassiere may be so secured thereon as to have the suspension straps formed as continuations of the central vertical arranged reinforcing strips and provided with a loop whereby the same may be placed in position upon the wearer and then secured or stitched to the inner face of the brassiere at a point adjacent the respective ends thereof. In this manner the sus pension stra s will not be caused to become loosened or roken from the brassire as is customary with the suspension straps now in use upon the brassieres and furthermore will tend to provide additional reinforcing means throughout the entire brassiere. Furthermore the strain and pull upon the suspension straps will be evenly distributed throughout all of the brassiere and more referably over the several vertical reinorcing strips as well as the arcuate shaped reinforcing strips.

The reinforcing strips both vertically arranged and arcuate shaped may be formed of any suitable material and when the brassiere is worn as shown in'Fig. 3 of the drawings the front face of the brassiere will provide a neat and ornamental design and will not show any of the reinforcing strips or the elastic band for supporting the diaphragm.

The simplicity and efliciency of the brassiere as above described renders the same very eflicient and useful and furthermore can be obtained at a minimum cost.

From the foregoing descriptioniof the construction of my improved apparatus, it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A combined brassiere anddiaphragm supporter of the above mentioned character comprising a body encircling member, said body encircling member tapering smaller to-' wards its ends toprovide a comparatively low back portion, means for securing the ends together, an elastic band secured to the inner face of the said member adjacent the lower edge thereof and extending the-full length thereof to aid in supporting the diaphragm, vertical and arcuate reinforcing strips secured to the said member, and suspension straps at the upper edges of the said member.

2. A combined brassiere and diaphragm supporter comprising a body encircling member, said body encircling member tapering smaller towards its ends to provide a comparatively low back portion, means for securing the ends together, an elastic band secured to the inner face of the said member adjacent the lower edge thereof to aid in supporting the diaphragm and extending the full length thereof. vertical and arcuate reinforcing strips secured to the said member at predetermined portions thereon and suspension straps securcd to the upper edges of the said vertical reinforcing strips.

3. A combined brassiere and diaphragm supporter comprising a body encircling member tapering smaller towards its ends,

means for securing the ends together, an 'GlaStIC band of shorter length than the length I ofthe said member; secured to the inner face of the said member adjacent the lower edge thereof to aid in'supporting the diaphragm, vertical reinforcing strips secured to the said member, arcuate reinforcing strips secured to the said member and joining the upper and lower ends of the said vertical strips in pairs, and suspension straps secured to the said vertical reinforcing strips at the upper ends thereof.

4. A combined brassiere and diaphragm supporter comprising a body member tapering smaller towards its ends, means for securing the ends together, an elastic band of less length than the length of the said member,'said elastic band secured to the inner face of the said member adjacent the lower end thereof to aid in supporting the diaphragm, suspension straps having their suspension ends secured to the inner face of the said member and extending across the full width thereof to provide reinforcing strips, and arcuate reinforcing strips for the bust and diaphragm portions of the member connected to the inner face of said member and joining some of said reinforcing strips in pairs.

5. A combined brassiere and diaphragm supporter comprising a body encircling member having an arcuately formed upper edge and a compoundly curved lower edge, a wide elastic band secured to the inner face of said member adjacent the lower edge thereof, said elastic band being normally of shorter length than said member and stretched to extend the full length of said member, whereby to aid in supporting the diaphragm when the member is applied to the body, straps looped to form suspension means for said member and having portions thereof secured vertically across said body member to form stays, certain of said stays being positioned to form additional bust sup porting means and intersecting at their lower portions the aforesaid elastic band to further reinforce the member, and additional reinforcing means for said member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VICTORIA LENDRESSE. 

